Gangseo District Veterans Association of Busan Conducts Cleanup at Baek Jaeduk National Defense Hero Bust and Gadukdo Cemetery

Strengthening Memorial Facility Management
"We Will Continue to Put the Spirit of National Merit into Practice"

The Gangseo District Veterans Association of Busan (President: Kang Jongbu) conducted environmental maintenance and cleanup activities on May 12 at the Baek Jaeduk National Defense Hero Bust and the Gadukdo National Cemetery.

Gangseo District Veterans Association is conducting the Baek Jaeduk National Defense Hero Award and Gadukdo Cemetery Cleanup Activities. Provided by Busan Regional Veterans Office

This maintenance was carried out after it was determined that the lower marble section of the Baek Jaeduk National Defense Hero Statue, a representative memorial facility in Gangseo District, was severely damaged and could pose a safety risk to citizens. The Veterans Association independently completed the replacement and repair of the marble. In addition, they replaced the Taegeukgi flags and cleaned the surrounding environment at the Gadukdo National Cemetery.

Baek Jaeduk, the National Defense Hero, was born in 1926 in Cheonseong-dong (Gadukdo), Gangseo District, Busan. During the Korean War, he served in the Armored Regiment of the Capital Division and distinguished himself in the Angang and Gyeonggi battles, as well as the Wonsan recapture operation. In particular, during the 1953 battle at Saetbyeol Hill in Geumseong, Gangwon Province, he detected an attack by three enemy companies in advance and defended the position through fierce hand-to-hand combat and close-range fire, making a significant contribution to stabilizing the front line.

In recognition of these achievements, he was promoted by one rank and awarded the Order of Military Merit in 1954. In 2001, the 50th Anniversary Commemoration Committee of the Korean War selected him as a "National Defense Hero," and a bust was erected in his honor.

The Gadukdo National Cemetery is a site where the spirits of 25 national defense heroes who sacrificed their lives during the Korean War are enshrined. It is one of the major memorial sites in the region.

The Gangseo District Veterans Association regularly conducts monthly cleanup activities and Taegeukgi replacement at this site. With this maintenance, they stated, "We will strengthen the management of memorial facilities and put the spirit of national merit into practice so that the correct spirit of patriotism can be passed down to local youth and citizens."

The Busan Regional Veterans Office is actively encouraging companies, schools, and other organizations to participate in memorial visits and cleanup activities in order to raise public interest in memorial facilities and national flag management cemeteries, as well as to promote voluntary participation from the local community.